How Much Should I Expect to Pay for Catering in Northern VA?

When planning an event, one of the biggest expenses to account for is the catering. In some cases, where you aren’t renting a venue for the event, catering is your most significant expense.

If you’ve planned events before or are new to it, whether for private parties at home or corporate events, you know just how vital setting and sticking to a catering budget is.

Before you begin planning your next event and setting your budget, let’s dive into what you can expect to pay for catering in 2025. In this blog post, we’re breaking down the types of services, average costs, and how to save on catering.

Average Cost of Catering in 2025

According to Bark.com, the average cost for catering in 2025 is between $11 and $200 per person. You’re probably thinking: That’s quite a large price gap, isn’t it? And you’re right. There are a ton of factors that contribute to the per-person price in catering.

Some further average cost data shows how much this price can vary.

Traditional Catering – $40 to $200 per person
Buffet Catering – $40 to $180 per person
All-Day Catering – $160 to $300 per person
Drop-Off Catering – $10 to $20 per person

The price you can expect to pay for catering depends largely on the type of catering service you need for your event and for how long.

How Much Does It Cost to Cater a Private Party?

If you’re planning to host a private party, such as a graduation, bridal shower, or holiday at home, catering can save you a ton of time. Oftentimes, catering a private party is more affordable than a larger, more formal event.

You can expect to pay the following per person for catering a private party:

Traditional Catering – $30 to $85 per person
Buffet Catering – $15 to $40 per person
Private Chef – $40 to $120 per person

How Much Does It Cost to Cater a Corporate Event?

Catering a corporate event can be slightly more expensive due to the nature of the event. Some corporate events can be pretty casual, such as Friday lunch in the office or an upscale awards or recognition event in a rented venue.

You can expect to pay the following per person for catering a corporate event:

Traditional Catering – $50 to $120 per person
Buffet Catering – $20 to $40 per person
Private Chef – $70 to $200 per person

What Factors Determine the Cost of Catering?

There are plenty of factors that determine how much you can expect to pay for catering at your event.

Venue

Depending on where your event is held, your catering cost can be more or less expensive.

If you are renting a venue that has kitchen facilities that can be used by your caterer (or to hire in-house catering), it could cut down on catering costs. However, if kitchen facilities are unavailable, then the caterers may need to prepare more dishes before arriving and bring their own cooking and prep stations.

The location of the venue can also determine the cost. If you’re hosting the event in a major city like Washington D.C., you can expect to pay slightly more than catering in a smaller town in Northern Virginia.

Service

There are various catering service options to choose from when planning your event. Each catering service can align with the type of event and can set a casual or formal tone.

Some of the most common catering services include:

Traditional Table Service – Traditional catering involves staff members bringing dishes that are prepared on-site to guests at their tables.
Buffet Catering Service – Pre-prepared meals are served in warming trays where guests can arrive with their plates and are served at will.
Private Chef Service – Chefs come to your venue to prepare meals and serve dishes to guests at their tables.
Drop-Off Catering Service – Pre-prepared meals are dropped off at the venue in warming trays for the hostess to set up (at Cafesano, we help with setup).

Not only does the type of service dictate how the meals are served, but also the need for serving and setup and cleanup responsibilities.

Staff Members

The type of catering service you choose will determine how many staff members must work your event as well. The more staff you need, the more you can expect to pay for catering.

For traditional catering, you will need staff to set up, prepare, and serve the meals. However, with a drop-off catering service, there is no need for staff to work the event.

How to Save on Catering Costs

Catering is often the most important part of your event. The food served is one of the things guests will talk about the most afterward! Luckily, there are some ways you can save on catering costs without sacrificing quality and service.

Book Early – The earlier you can book your caterer for your event, the better deal you will get because they will have more time to prepare and an open schedule.
Find a Local Caterer – Some caterers may charge extra fees for travel, so working with a local caterer can help cut down on costs.
Limit Menu and Courses – It’s easy to go overboard with how many courses are served as a host, but consider limiting the food choices and cutting one of the courses (like an appetizer).
Choose an Appropriate Service – Deciding which type of catering service is best for your event (and your budget) can help you save on catering.

Plan Your Next Catered Event with Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro in Northern Virginia

Whether you’re planning a corporate event or an at-home party with your closest friends and family, Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro is here to cater delicious authentic-inspired Mediterranean dishes.

Your guests will love dipping freshly made pita bread in our baba ghanoush or biting into one of our signature flatbreads or options from our gluten-free menu. Perfect for holidays, conferences, and virtually any event, your guests are guaranteed to remember the food when you choose Cafesano!

Plus, we can host your event on our gorgeous outdoor patio.

Check out our catering menu and request a quote for your next event today!

Cafesano